A Tokyo-based peace group is inviting people to take part in a tour in December of Japanese and South Korean cities, including those with nuclear power plants, to expand the movement against nuclear energy, the organizer said.
Under a joint project with Seoul-based Korea Green Foundation, the nongovernmental organization Peace Boat plans to take more than 700 participants to areas near nuclear power plants in the two countries so they can exchange opinions with local residents about scrapping nuclear power.
"Demonstrations in Japan have become a large civic action now. As our next step, we need to hear the voices of residents (near atomic plants) and discuss how to really stop nuclear power plants, not just oppose them," said veteran journalist Satoshi Kamata, who is taking part in the tour.
Some people, including those in places with power plants, are promoting nuclear power over blackout and job loss fears, among other issues, expected from abolition, the NGO said.
In Japan, the Peace & Green Boat 2012 tour will visit Hakata and Tsuruga, which have nuclear plants, and South Korea's Busan, home to the Kori nuclear plant.
The eight-day trip will start on Dec. 1. Prices for the tour range from ¥89,000 to ¥198,000 per person.
Participants will also visit renewable energy facilities on the South Korean island of Jeju and meet with atomic bomb survivors in Nagasaki, the NGO said.